All Six Gubenatorial Gains Go to Democrats, Who Also Make Huge Gains in Statehouses

The Dems have picked up six gubenatorial seats: Ohio, Arkansa, Colorado, Maryland, New York, and Massachusetts, where Deval Patrick becomes the highest-level African American ever elected by the state, and the first democratic governor in 16 years (which means those guys at Fox can really have at the state now).

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, as of 7:30 a.m. MT, Democrats control both houses of the legislature in 23 states; Republicans in 15 and nine are split. Final counts aren't available for three chambers in two states: the Montana House and Senate and the Pennsylvania House. This adds up to 49 states because Nebraska's legislature is nonpartisan.Before the election, Republicans controlled 20 state legislatures; Democrats 19 and 10 were split. [Compare pre- and post-election control here.]

NCSL reports that Democrats won approximately 275 more state legislative seats, adding up to new majorities in nine chambers across the nation: the Iowa House and Senate, the Indiana House, the Minnesota House, the Michigan House, the New Hampshire House and Senate, the Oregon House and the Wisconsin Senate. (The Iowa Senate was previously tied.)

Republicans gained a few seats in the Oklahoma Senate to tie that chamber, but Democrats will likely control it because the lieutenant governor, who casts deciding votes, is a Democrat.

"The voters expressed a real desire for change, and all in one direction," said NCSL's elections expert Tim Storey. "The Democrats have put some light between the two parties. This isn't parity anymore."